Preferred Citation Note

Extent

1.5 cu. ft. (4 boxes): 432 items

Biography/History

Asa Chinn was born in 1877 to prominent Lexington businessman Addison Ball "A. B." Chinn and his wife Fannie Chinn (neè Runyon). Along with James A. Todd, A. B. Chinn operated the successful dry goods firm Chinn and Todd. A. B. Chinn was murdered in the family home at 248 Maxwell Street by burglars in the early hours of July 10, 1902. Asa, then 25, attempted to capture the burglars after they shot his father through the heart. Asa was shot three times in the face, neck, and arm. Asa took over the family business after his recovery, but left it after only a few years to start a realty company. Chinn & Rankin (Luther T. Rankin) Realtors and Insurance operated out offices located at 148 North Upper. Asa Chinn worked as a realtor and an insurance agent until his death in 1952 at the age of 75.

Scope and Content

Collection consists of 205 copy negatives and 205 copy prints of photographs that Asa Chinn took in connection with his realty business in 1920-1921. The photographs were to document Lexington properties in the downtown area. The individual photographs were printed and arranged into long strips that would afford a view of an entire city block. Researched and documented by I. E. "Buddy" Thompson, the collection affords a rare address by address visual guide to Lexington's downtown business district.

In addition to the "collage" views of downtown Lexington, the original 8 x 10 nitrate negatives taken by Chinn were placed in the archives. Years of improper storage before their placement in the archives had taken their toll, and only 22 of the approximately 600 original negatives were in a state that allowed images to be retrieved from them. Both traditional contact printing and digital capture techniques were employed to preserve their information. Due to the poisonous gases and flammable nature of degrading nitrate negatives, after image capture or transfer, the negatives were safely destroyed.

The collection covers both sides of a street and is identified by numeric address and by business or resident name (if known.) The following streets are represented:

Short Street, between Felix and Walnut

Main Street, between Jefferson and Eastern

Vine, between Limestone and Patterson

Broadway, between Water and Church

Cheapside

Mill, between Water and Church

Upper, between Water and Church

Limestone, between Water and 3rd

Subjects

Lexington (Ky.)--History

Lexington (Ky.)--Buildings

Lexington (Ky.)--Pictorial works

User Restrictions

Copyright has not been assigned to the University of Kentucky.

Related Material

Perreiah, Grace. Lexington, Ky.: s.n., 1984.

, 2002AV03, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.

Collection Inventory

Collage Series

Images #1-205

Scope and Content Note:

This portion of the collection consists of 205 copy negatives and 205 copy prints of photographs that Asa Chinn took in connection with his realty business in 1920-1921. The individual photographs were printed and arranged into long strips that would afford a view of an entire city block.

Nitrate Series

Images #206-227

Scope and Content Note:

This portion of the collection consists of the original 8 x 10 nitrate negatives taken by Chinn. Due to years of improper storage before coming to the archives, only 22 of the approximately 600 original negatives were in a state that allowed images to be retrieved from them. Both traditional contact printing and digital capture techniques were employed to preserve their information